Transformers .. Is It Just Me?


I have 2 line conditioners in my system in series -- the SR PowerCell 10SE Mark II (according to Ted_d's information, thanks) plugged into a Bybee Stealth. Frankly, with my recent experience with an isolation transformer, if I had to do it all over again I would have made different choices. I think I could have had a lot more bang for my buck. Let's just say that the Bybee Stealth made it worthwhile.

After experimenting with a lot of Bybee products I have come to the conclusion that it is hard to do too much AC cleaning. Lately, I have been doing research into balanced conditioners, isolation transformers and power regenerators. Since I live overseas it would cost an arm and a leg to have one of those mammoth balanced transformers shipped over -- not to mention the cost of the item. This is beyond my budget. So I have been looking at relatively inexpensive "alternatives". I cannot afford a balanced conditioner or balanced isolation transformer at the moment so I decided to gamble on a relatively inexpensive medical grade isolation transformer.

I found what I thought might be a good choice on Ebay. (I also found an inexpensive power regenerator. That's a story that will have to wait for another thread.) I just put this isolation transformer into my system and have been doing some A/B-ing. I have read where non-balanced transformers will have minimal effect -- but I did read (I lost the thread) where one Audiogon poster was not convinced of this. My initial experience -- is it just me? This is amazing. The holographic effect with this unit in my system is astonishing. This is unmistakable. When I unplug the unit the air around instruments and vocalists is gone. The sound is still holographic but it is not the same at all.

OK, the unit has a hum due to the internal fan. But with all but very low volume I cannot detect it. I'll have to work on damping the hum. Has anyone else had a positive experience with a medical grade isolation transformer? My unit was made in Germany by Block, by a top maker of transformers. It weighs about 40 lbs. and the toroidal is encased in resin. Do different medical transformers give different results?
sabai
Sabai, I'm still not sure of the value to look for. I have seen them listed as 1KVA up to 5 KVA and beyond.
Ozzy,
Mine is 1.380KVA. I would get the highest rated unit you can afford depending on the requirements of your system. I would be careful to choose a unit that is rated at least twice the cumulative watts of your system -- especially if you have a pre amp and power amp. Go through your system carefully and add up the rated watts, then double that number. This should be the minimum number to run your system safely.
Sabai, I just bought a Olympus Model 012MD Hosp Grade Isolation Transformer Ultra Low Leakage rated at 11.25 Amps.
It states "The leakage current is the lowest 10uA or less for the most stringent applications."
Does anyone know what that means ?

Near as I can figure, the items plugged into my Synergistic
Powercell is about 500 watts total.
So I think this unit should be able to power properly, but I'm still double checking my calculations.
Ozzy,
I have no idea what this leaking number means. Check your calculations carefully before powering up.
Ozzy,
I just checked Ebay for your model and found this Olympus item with the same model number:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Brand-New-Olympus-Model-012MD-Hosp-Grade-Isolation-Transformer-Ultra-Low-Leakage-/160573538833?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2562edc211#ht_500wt_938

It says 1350VA which is more than double the watts of your system. I'll be interested in hearing what it does for your system.